Refrigerator car construction



Jan. 1l, 41944.

Filed May 14, 1941 '5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A/ f/ /1 /f/ f/ /f /l /f il N MN z//f r l /1 fr, /1 1/ /1 r/ f/ f f/ /f f Jan. 11, 1944.

c. D. BoNsALL REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 2 llll Il lllllldllllllldllllllllelilllli Jan. 1 l, 1944.

C. D. BONSALL REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14, 1941 3sheets-sheet s [nw/229m: U/.zdrfs EMM/1 Patented Jan. 11, 1944 UNITEDREFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Charles D. Bonsall. Chicago, Ill..assignor to Standard Railway Devices Company, a corporation of DelawareApplication May 14, 1941,` Serial No. 393,332

3 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishablecommodities at a predetermined temperature. The usual features of arefrigerator car are an insulated body to prevent or retard ingress ofheat during warm weather and egress of heat during cold weather, and acooling means and a heating means to be used' during warm and coldWeather respectively.

This invention applies particularly to cars in which the cooling means,preferably containers for water ice, eutectic ice, brine or dry ice, aredisposed immediately below the roof of the car. The lading is supportedin spaced relation to the floor by a foraminous rack. Flues, preferablyas sociated with the side walls of the car, communicate between thecooling means and the space under the floor rack to provide a path forthe circulationv of air. The path is from the cooling means downwardlythrough the aforementioned flues, through the space under the floorrack, upwardly through the lading compartment thereby cooling thelading, and finally to the cooling means from where the cycle isrepeated.

An object of the invention is to provide for more effective and moreefcient cooling of thel car by making possible more complete contactbetween the refrigerant and the circulating air. I have disclosed a formof refrigerant container adapted to bring about more effective and moreefficient refrigeration which embodies the follow- :H

ing features:

The bottom of the container is 'foraminous preferably made of expandedmetal, wire netting or perforated metallic sheet. Tests which have beenmade indicate that a refrigerant container having a foraminous bottomcools the circulating air at a very considerably faster rate and alsoimparts a somewhat lower temperature to such circulating air.

The walls of the tank are inclined; that is, they diverge downwardly sothat the tendency,`whe`n the ice adjacent the foraminous bottom melts,is for the downwardly diverging walls to permit the remaining ice tosettle closer to the bottom of the container. eiciently cooled than ifthe refrigerant is disposed near the top of the container.

The side, and preferably the end, walls of the container areimperforate. In the first place, I wish to prevent the ice from clingingto the side walls of the container; when ice comprised of a plurality ofrelatively small pieces is partially melted, such pieces become frozentogether into a solid mass and if the side walls of the container areformed so as to' permit such ice to cling there- The circulating airwill then .be more Y,

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to, the ice forms a bridge between the walls and above the bottom of thecontainer. The refrigerant is thereby removed from the path of aircirculation with. a consequent loss of refrigerating eici'ency. In thesecond place, the imperforate walls make it necessary for thecirculatingr air to flow between the container bottom andthe drip pan.Where foraminous walls are provided, it is possible for the air tocirculate through and above the container; when the ic'e is partiallymelted, there is a large space within the container available for aircirculation so that it is probable that parts of the air flowing throughthe container do not come in contact with the refrigerant. By forcingall theA circulating air through the relatively narrow duct below thecontainer, I make certain that every part of the air comes in intimatecontact withy the refrigerant.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will` be apparent from thefollowing detailed description by referring to the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a refrigerator car embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 isV a plan View of the refrigerant contain'er shown in Fig. l,havinga portion of the top broken away. Y

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections through refrigerant containersshowing modified forms of my invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the portion of Fig. 2 enclosed within thecircle.

r Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 E of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows another modification of my invention.

The general parts of the refrigerator car shown in Fig. l are insulatedroof A; side walls B; floor D; refrigerant containersk E; hatch F' forloading refrigerant into one of the containers E; side wall flues G;foramnous floor rack H and space J between the rack H and the floor D. Arefrigerant container E is preferablypositioned directly'below the' roofA and adjacent each sidewall B. A drip pan K is provided below eachcontainer E' and a partition L is disposed in an upstanding position atthe edge of the drip pan K. The drip pan K and the partition L cooperatewith the roof A and the upper part of the side Wall B` to form anenclosure M around the container E, an air inlet open-ing N to theenclosure M5 being` provided by spacing the partition L from the roof A.An air discharge opening P leads from the enclosure M to the flue G at alower elevation than the air inlet opening N. Cars of this type commonlyhave a row of refrigerant containers E near each side wall B, whichcontainers are spaced apart at the center of the car. The partitions Lare also spaced apart t form a duct Q which communicates between thelading compartment R and openings N.

Air circulation is as follows: Air in the lading compartment R is warmedby contact with the lading and rises through the duct Q to enter theenclosing structures M through the air inlet openings N. The air is thencooled by contact with the cold refrigerant containers E and falls byreason of its lower temperature and therefore greater density throughthe discharge openings P and ues G to the space J whence it risesthrough the rack H to the lading compartment R. The above describedcycle is thereafter continuously repeated.

The container 2 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is comprised of an upper part 3and a lower part 5 which are secured together, preferably by a removablemeans, such as the bolts 6 shown.

The lower part is comprised of imperforate side walls 8, preferablyimperforate end walls 9 and a forarninous bottom Il). Longitudinallyextending angle shaped stiffeners I I are secured to and form a part ofthe container 2 and are disposed at the juncture of the side walls 8 andbottom I0. Vertical stiiTeners I3 are secured to an upstand from thelongitudinal stiffeners I I and substantially horizontal stiifeners I4disposed below the bottom I0 extend between and are secured to thelongitudinal stiffeners II. The lower margins of side walls 8 areilanged (I6) into the container above the longitudinal stiifeners II.The bottom I0 of the container, which bottom may be expanded metal, wirescreen, perforated plate or other foraminous material, rests upon thehorizontal stiifeners I4 and its margins I'I underlie the inwardlydirected ilanges I6 of the side walls 8.

The upper part 3 of the container 2 is preferably comprised ofimperforate side (20) and end (2l) Walls and a top 23 which ispreferably imperforate except for an opening 24 aligned with the hatch Fin the roof A for loading refrigerant into the container. The top 23 ofthe container may be provided with stiifening corrugations 25. Carlines26 extend between and are secured to the opposite side walls A of thecar and the container E is supported by brackets 21 secured to the endsof the longitudinal stifieners II and to the Carlines 26.

Warm air from the lading compartment R, as hereinabove explained, risesthrough the duct Q `between the partitions L and then ows downwardlythrough the passage 34 between the container E and the respectivepartition L and through the duct 35 between the container lbottom I0 andthe drip pan K. The container side wall 36 adjacent the partition L iscomprised of upper (20) and lower (8) parts and is substantiallyimperforate; practically the entire amount of circulating air is thusforced to flow through the relatively narrow duct 35 where it is assuredof having intimate contact with the refrigerant within the container E.In cases where the side Walls of the container are foraminous, some ofthe air ows through such foraminous walls into the interior of thecontainer; then when a considerable part of the refrigerant has melted,a large open space is available for air flow so it is doubtful if all ofthe air comes in contact with the refrigerant` Obviously, if

some of the circulating air ilows through the refrigerant chamber Mwithout being cooled, the temperature in the car cannot be as low as ifthe air is uniformly cooled. Furthermore, the smooth surfaces of theimperforate side walls 8, 20 make it more probable that the refrigerantwill fall to the bottom of the container as the refrigerant adjacent thebottom melts; whereas, if the side walls were rough, there would be atendency for the refrigeration to cling thereto.

Fig. 3 shows a refrigerant container 40 somewhat similar to that shownin Figs. 1 and 2, but also embodies side walls 4I, 43 which divergetoward the bottom 44 of the container 40. This is to prevent refrigerantbecoming wedged lbetween the side walls 4I, 43 and facilitates thedropping thereof onto the bottom 44 of the container when therefrigerant adjacent the bottom melts.

Fig. 4 shows a refrigerant container 50 constructed in one piece andcomprising longitudinally extending angle shaped stiffeners 5I to whichsubstantially vertical side walls 53 of the container are secured.Vertical stiifeners 54 are preferably secured to the longitudinalstiieners 5| and to the side walls 53; of the container. Substantiallyhorizontal stiffeners 56 which consist of angles with their end portionsflattened extend between the longitudinal stiffeners 5I. The bottom 51of the container 58 is preferably made of fo-raminous material, such asthe expanded metal shown, and is riveted to the longitudinal stiffeners5I. The substantially horizontal stiffeners 56 are secured to thelongitudinal stiieners 5I by some of the rivets 59 which secure thebottom 5l of the container to the lon gitudinal stiffeners 5I.Upstanding members 6U are riveted to the upper parts of the side walls53 and support the container top 62, which is preferably foraminous.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate in detail a method of securing the expandedmetal bottom I0 to the stiffeners I4 which underlie such bottom. Thissecuring means comprises a bolt 65 which extends through a hole 68 inthe expanded metal, the head 66 of which bolt overlies parts of theexpanded metal adjacent the hole.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the lower part I5 of the container'I6 is comprised of lon gitudinally extending angle shaped stiffeners I6connected by transversely extending stiffeners I6 and having upstanding,substantially vertical stiifeners Ill secured thereto. The side walls ofthe lower part 'I5 are formed of substantially imperforate plates 82secured to the stiffeners 18, 8| and formed with outwardly projectingflanges 84 on the upper margins thereof. The bottom 85 of the containermay be formed of any of the foraminous materials hereinabove mentioned.The upper part 88 of the container includes the longitudinally extendingstiffeners 89 and the inverted U-shape stiffeners 9i secured at theiropposite ends to the longitudinal stiffeners 89. Foraminous material 92is secured to the stife' feners 89, 8| and the upper part 88 is attachedto the lower part 15, preferably by a removable means, such as the bolts94 shown.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of theinvention, though it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as itis obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of theclaims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator car, a wall structure arranged to form a car walland a flue, a refrigerant container adjacent said wall, said containerhaving a bottom and spaced apart walls and means cooperating with saidbottom to form a duct communicating with said ue, opposite walls of saidcontainer comprising substantially imperforate material formed withinwardly projecting lower marginal iianges, a plurality of spaced apartstiffeners for said bottom extending between said last mentioned walls,said bottom comprising foraminous material arranged with its marginsinterposed between said flanges and said stiifeners.

2. In a refrigerator car having a wall structure arranged to form a carwall and a flue; a refrigerant container adjacent said wall, said con,-tainer having a bottom and spaced apart walls and means cooperating withsaid bottom to form a duct communicating with said flue, opposite wallsof said container constructed of substantially imperforate material, andstiffeners extending transversely of said container and arranged tosupport said bottom, said bottom constructed of substantially flatforaminous material.

3. In a refrigerator car having a wall structure arranged to form a carwall and a flue; a refrigerant container for solid refrigerant adjacentsaid wall, said container having a bottom and spaced apart walls andmeans cooperating with said bottom to form a duct communicating withsaid ilue, stiffeners extending transversely of said container andarranged to support said bottom, said walls of said containerconstructed of substantially imperforate material and arranged todiverge downwardly thereby facilitating movement of the refrigeranttoward the bottom of the container and said bottom constructed ofsubstantially flat foraminous material.

4. In a, refrigerator car having a wall structure arranged to form a carwall and a flue; a refrigerant container adjacent said wall, saidcontainer having a bottom and spaced apart walls, stiffeners extendinglongitudinally of said container and having lower flanges, meanscooperating with said bottom to form a duct communicating with saidflue, opposite Walls of said container constructed of substantiallyimperforate material formed with lower marginal flanges substantiallyabutting said stiffener flanges, stiffeners extending transversely ofsaid container and arranged to support said bottom,

said bottom constructed of substantially flat foraminous material.

5. In a refrigerator car having a wall structure arranged to form a carwall and a flue; a refrigerant container adjacent said wall, saidcontainer having a foraminous bottom and spaced apart walls and meanscooperating with said bottom to form a duct communicating with saidiiue, opposite walls of said container arranged to diverge downwardlythereby facilitating movement of the refrigerant toward the bottom ofthe container, and stiffeners extending transversely of said containerand arranged to support said bottom.

6. In a refrigerator car having a wall structure arranged to form a carwall and a iiue; a refrigerant container adjacent said wall, saidcontainer having a bottom and spaced apart walls and means cooperatingwith said bottom to form a duct communicating with said flue, said wallsof said container constructed of substantially imperforate material, andstiffeners extending transversely of said container and arranged tosupport said bottom, said bottom having a plurality of apertures thereindistributed throughout substantially the entire area of said bottom, theaggregate area of said apertures comprising the major portion of thearea of said bottom.

7. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart carlines and a wallstructure arranged to form a car wall and a flue; a refrigerantcontainer adjacent said wall, said container having a bottom and spacedapart walls and means cooperating with said bottom to form a ductcommunicating with said flue, stiffeners for supporting said bottomextending longitudinally thereof beyond the ends of said container,means securing said stiieners to said carlines, and said bottom having aplurality of apertures therein distributed throughout substantially theentire area of said bottom, the aggregate area of said aperturescomprising the major portion of the area of said bottom.

8. In a refrigerator car having a refrigerant container adjacent theroof thereof, and a drip pan below said container and spaced therefromto provide for air circulation therebetween, said container havingimperforate side and end walls, a foraminous bottom, and a foraminoustop.

CHARLES D. BONSALL,

